Book Review - Thunder on the Moor by Andrea Matthews

Thunder on the Moor

By Andrea Matthews

Publication Date: 30th October 2019

Publisher: Inez M. Foster

Page Length: 430 Pages

Genre: Historical Romance

Maggie Armstrong grew up enchanted by her father’s tales of blood feuds and border raids. In fact, she could have easily fallen for the man portrayed in one particular image in his portrait collection. Yet when her father reveals he was himself an infamous Border reiver, she finds it a bit far-fetched—to say the least—especially when he announces his plans to return to his sixteenth century Scottish home with her in tow.

Suspecting it’s just his way of getting her to accompany him on yet another archaeological dig, Maggie agrees to the expedition, only to find herself transported four hundred and fifty years into the past. Though a bit disoriented at first, she discovers her father’s world to be every bit as exciting as his stories, particularly when she’s introduced to Ian Rutherford, the charming son of a neighboring laird. However, when her uncle announces her betrothal to Ian, Maggie’s twentieth-century sensibilities are outraged. She hardly even knows the man. But a refusal of his affections could ignite a blood feud.

Maggie’s worlds are colliding. Though she’s found the family she always wanted, the sixteenth century is a dangerous place. Betrayal, treachery, and a tragic murder have her questioning whether she should remain or try to make her way back to her own time.

To make matters worse, tensions escalate when she stumbles across Bonnie Will Foster, the dashing young man in her father’s portrait collection, only to learn he is a dreaded Englishman. But could he be the hero she’s always dreamed him to be? Or will his need for revenge against Ian shatter more than her heart?

Maggie has always been enthralled by her father’s storytelling. Tales of the Border reivers came to life when he told them, and they certainly spurred her love of history, while equally fascinating and entertaining her at the same time. What’s more, her father had a picture book of old portraits, and there was one young man in particular who she could definitely imagine herself falling for, should he have lived in the same century as her.

When Edward Foster approaches Robert Armstrong, and tells him that he has finally figured out the problem that has plagued them for the last twenty-five years, Robert is all too eager to make haste and prepare for this journey of a lifetime to come to an end. But he has his daughter to consider. Maggie didn’t even know that Robert had grown up in the 16th century, nor that her ‘uncle’ Eddie had been the one to pull him through time into the 20th century. But Robert finally had the chance to return home, and it wasn’t an opportunity he was about to pass up.

A thrilling adventure through time, Thunder On the Moor, A Time Travel Romance by Andrea Matthews will pull you in and send you tumbling through the pages into the 16th century, from which there is no escape until the final pages have been turned, and the book closed.

Although not truly believing her father’s words at first, Maggie plays along with Robert and Edward when they say that they are going back in time. For, surely, her father and uncle were doing nothing but embellishing the details of a trip to an archaeological dig to convince her to come without a fuss? Everything she thought she knew about her life and the world comes crashing down when a group of Border reivers arrive and treat her father like a long-lost sibling. After her mother died when she was young, Maggie’s only family had been her father, and her uncle Eddie, and out of nowhere, she was suddenly surrounded by relatives. As it turns out, she had always had them - they were just hidden away four hundred and fifty years in the past. Getting used to life in a different century took a back-burner when compared to getting to know all the family members she never knew she had. Maggie’s character is certainly endearing, and she will capture the heart of any reader almost instantly. The characters in this novel have been crafted with such attention to detail, that they all come across as incredibly real in the telling.

There is certainly a conflict of the heart in this novel, and trying to adapt to 16th century ideals while simultaneously figuring out the rules of ‘dating’ is something Maggie truly struggles with. Of course, Ian Rutherford doesn’t know that Maggie is new to the century, and has no reason to wait for her to get used to her new life before attempting to court her. And it’s not as though she doesn’t enjoy the attention. Ian is a good-looking man and one who definitely knows it, and his charm quickly captures Maggie’s attention. But she can’t help herself from noticing a familiar face. William Foster, although from an opposing clan from across the border, is instantly recognisable, for he looks so much like his portrait from her father’s collection. Various events in the novel depict one man as an honest gentleman and the other as a murderous ruffian, but their true identities are only revealed in the final chapters. The layout of this novel, with different viewpoints, entices the reader even more, as the reader has information that Maggie does not have, and Maggie can only work with the information she receives. Plus, Geordie Armstrong would very much like to see a match between Maggie and Ian, and Will is nothing more than a young rogue from the Foster clan across the border. Given that they’re in the 16th century, Maggie doesn’t have much control over the situation. The carefully crafted way this novel has been written, revealing little pieces of information and small truths only when absolutely necessary, has created an enticing story of intrigue and excitement, which is next to impossible to stop reading until the very end, when the realities of each situation reveal themselves in a climatic thrill that will have you reading faster and faster with excitement and curiosity.

There is a clear clash in this novel between the 16th and 20th centuries, for what is normal in one century is certainly not in another, and Maggie finds herself stuck in the middle of what she believes to be right and wrong. The attention to historical accuracy is outstanding, covering even the most minute aspects. Maggie’s inquisitiveness showcases the extensive research put into this book, addressing all her queries and highlighting the divergences from her modern day existence. This book is a testament to the rewards of extensive research, as it combines historical knowledge and expert writing to create an immersive story.

Thunder On the Moor by Andrea Matthews is not just a book you read, but an experience you live. Travel back in time to the 16th century as you delve into this meticulously crafted novel, where a captivating story awaits you from the very first page to the closing sentence. This novel is undoubtedly the start of an amazing series that will easily become a beloved favourite. I highly recommend it.

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Thunder on the Moor
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Andrea Matthews

Andrea Matthews is the pseudonym for Inez Foster, a historian and librarian who loves to read and write and search around for her roots, genealogical speaking. She has a BA in History and an MLS in Library Science, and enjoys the research almost as much as she does writing the story. In fact, many of her ideas come to her while doing casual research or digging into her family history. She is the author of the Thunder on the Moor series set on the 16th century Anglo-Scottish Border, and the Cross of Ciaran series, where a fifteen hundred year old Celt finds himself in the twentieth century. Andrea also writes historical mysteries under the pen name I. M. Foster. Her series A South Shore Mystery is set in the early 1900s on Long Island. Andrea is a member of the Long Island Romance Writers, and the Historical Novel Society.

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